Body belt



Oct. 13, 1942. c, STALEY, JR 2,298,659

BODY BELT Filed Aug. 11, 1941 Patenteol ct. 13;, 1942 bl if BQDY BELT 3 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in body belts, and particularly to a belt con structed for limited automatic compensation in length under strains and stresses incident to its ordinary use.

Belts providing for limited automatic length compensation have been heretofore provided, but such as previously designed present objectionable features of utilizing metallic springs or other metal parts so arranged as to permit objectionable wear of the belt or garments in continued use. One such prior construction uses metallic springs for permitting pressure movement of the belt buckle alone, and thus when the buckle is in normal position, or when the belt is being applied, only a materially limited portion of the buckle is exposed for the entry of the tongue portion of the belt, and this is objectionable. Furthermore, the described construction does not permit a lateral flexibility of the buckle relative to the belt, which is desirable in inserting the tongue end of the belt in the buckle.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a b .t having a limited automatic compensation as to length and a limited lateral flexibility of the buckle, with the compensating means of non-metallic structure to avoid wear, and the division of the belt providing for the compensating movement entirely concealed in all conditions of the belt.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a bro-ken view of the buckle and of a belt provided with the invention, showing its appearance in all conditions of use.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figur 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the buckle end of the belt with the lower covering of the extensible element removed.

Figure i is a bottom plan of the buckle end of the belt in the normal relation of the parts.

The belt i, which is otherwise of any size or material, is formed at the buckle end with a return lap 2, to form with the overlying section of the belt a belt connector loop 3 to receive the compensating element. The terminal loop end 3 formed by this return lap is materially reduced in width transverse the belt, by appropriately cutting away the material.

The buckle i, of any desired or appropriate form, is held for usual free movement in a double thickness of belt material 5, hereinafter termed the buckle section looped at one end 6 to loosely receive the cross bar of the buckle and also looped at the opposite end, as at l, to provide a connector loop corresponding in all essential respects to the loop 3.

The loops 3 and I embrace the cross bars 8 and 9 respectively of a rectangular metallic connector and thus the buckle 4 is connected to the remaining length of the belt. The loop 3 is the terminal of the belt proper and return lap, and a strip of rubber l l, of suflicient strength is looped over the cross bar 3 of the connector, the ends secured to a tie strip :2 of flexible material, which is in turn secured, preferably by stitches to the inner surface of the return lap 2.

The return lap 2 is then stitched at !4 along its longitudinal edges and across its end edge to the belt proper. A housing is thus formed for the rubber strip l I and one end of the connector to pr vent displacement and prevent wear of adjacent surfaces.

As the belt is put under longitudinal strain, the rubber strip l i will yield and through the connector lEJ permit independent longitudinal and relative movement of the buckle. The normal relations of the parts is restored on release of the strain.

It is highly desirable that the belt when in use should present the ordinary appearance of the usual belt. To secure this desirable result, while maintaining the compensating function, a more or less conventional loop i5 is provided to receive the tongue end of the belt after buckling of the belt. This tongue loop I5 is slidably arranged on the main length of the belt and is connected by a narrow strip it to the buckle loop 5 of belt material. The strip It so holds the tongue loop 55 that the latter fully covers the junction between the belt sections and conceals this division both when in normal relation or in fuliy-extended relation. As the strip 16 is connected to and moves with the buckle section of the belt, the division line between the belt sections, and also the metallic connector W are completely concealed at all times.

Thus the belt when in use, either in normal condition or extended under strain, presents the usual normal one-piece belt appearance, which is a very desirable characteristic from the standpoint of the wearer. There are no metallic parts capable of causing any wear on the garments of the user, and the elastic strip Il may be easily and cheaply replaced when its efficiency is impaired.

t will be noted that the main length of the belt, hereinafter termed the belt section, completely covers and protects one end of the connector l0 and the elastic strip, and that the length connected to the buckle, hereinafter termed the buckle section, permits free and full exposure of the buckle at all times for convenient introduction of the tongue of the belt. Furthermore, by reason of the cross bars of 'the connector I0, and the relatively narrow loops 3 and 1, the belt section and buckle sections are permitted a limited lateral play independent of or during extension, to accommodate the belt to different positions of the wearer.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A body belt having a belt section and a buckle section, a connector for the sections, resilient means for joining the connector to one section, and a loop to receive the tongue end of the belt, said loop overlying and at all times concealing the connector and junction between the belt and buckle sections, the loop being connected to the buckle section.

2. A body belt including a belt section and a buckle section, both sections terminating in loops, a connector engaging both said loops, a rubber strip engaging the connector and secured to the belt section, a portion of the belt section underlying the strip.

3. A body belt including a belt section having a return lap at one end to form a connector loop, a buckle section having a buckle engaging loop at one end and a connector loop at the opposite end, a metallic connector engaging said connector loops, and a rubber strip looped over one end of the connector and secured to the return lap of the belt section, the return lap being stitched to the belt section to house the connector end and rubber strip.

HARRY CHAPLINE STALEY, JR. 

